[00:03.89]GAME ON OR GAME OVER?
[00:06.45]Are you a “gamer”?
[00:07.97]If you enjoy playing computer games like many millions of other teenagers worldwide, then yes, you are.
[00:15.62]According to the China Internet Network Information Centre (CINIC),
[00:20.77]Internet users in China spend more that eleven hours gaming every week.
[00:25.70]It is one of the most popular free time activities for young people today and does have a number of benefits.
[00:32.31]However, it is a hobby which is also worrying parents,
[00:36.05]educators and the government.
[00:38.09]The main cause for concern is that some young people cannot control their time when playing and become addicted to certain games.
[00:46.34]Teenagers who spend long hours online can end up falling behind in their studies and suffering health and social problems.
[00:53.76]In the worst case,
[00:55.33]this could even result in tragedy.
[00:57.78]The sad deaths of two boys from Chongqing who fell asleep on a railway line after playing for 48 hours non-stop shocked the nation and brought the issue to people’s attention.
[01:09.69]On the other hand, playing computer games can be beneficial to children’s development and to the country.
[01:15.62]China Daily reported that all the high-scoring students in the college entrance exams were also gamers,
[01:21.55]and China’s future success when competing in global markets will depend heavily on young adults who are skilled in using information technology.
[01:29.70]It is not possible to say that the Internet is simply “good” or “bad”,
[01:34.07]but it is a powerful tool that needs to be use with care.
[01:37.59]Liu Huanrong, a volunteer who has helped many teenagers addicted to online gaming,
[01:43.44]believes that the most important thing for today’s youth is to have balance in their lives.
[01:46.89]Miss Liu says that certain games take too long to play and are unsuitable for teenagers.
[01:54.91]She also believes that some children find the pressure of studying too much and turn to games as a way to escape.
[02:01.76]Young people should choose their games wisely and make time for sleep,
[02:06.17]sport, hobbies, friends and family as well as for study.
[02:10.48]If they do so, their lives will be happy, healthy and balanced.
[02:15.76]READING
[02:19.73]WWW. WLMAMA.COM
[02:25.66]For a lot of teenagers,
[02:27.46]their Internet friendship with a woman known as “Blue Sky” and “A Beautiful Mind” proved a turning point in their lives.
[02:35.90]By chatting online they were able to talk honestly about their troubles and received help in finding solutions to their problems.
[02:44.10]Many of the young people that “Blue Sky” met in the chat rooms were spending large amounts of time playing online games.
[02:51.76]Some were so addicted that they were missing school in order to play.
[02:56.30]By listening to reasons beneath this behaviour and by offering gentle encouragement,
[03:01.84]“Blue Sky” was able to help numerous adolescents make the adjustments needed to restore balance in their lives.
[03:09.18]When a grateful young net-friend posted an article on the Internet about “Blue Sky” in February 2004,
[03:16.78]her wonderful work was made known to the public.
[03:19.65]The national picked up the story and “Blue Sky”,
[03:23.89]whose real name is Liu Huanrong, quickly achieved fame as China’s “Web Mother”.
[03:29.63]Miss Liu says she does not possess any special abilities;
[03:33.76]“I just listened patiently and offered some advice.
[03:37.60]That’s all.” Perhaps the reason why she is able to understand young people’s problems is her experience of overcoming difficulties in her own life.
[03:47.55]As a teenager, Miss Liu was involved in a fire,
[03:51.31]in which 91% of her skin was burnt and she lost the use of her self-determination made it possible for her to build a successful life,
[04:03.10]and she had even found a way to use a computer mouse and keyboard.d
[04:07.14]Miss Liu’s work opened up a debate about how best to help young people control their use of the Internet,
[04:14.59]rather than be controlled by it.
[04:17.04]It became clear that young people and parents alike needed someone to talk things through with,
[04:23.08]and within minutes of going online.
[04:25.40]Miss Liu would have dozens of people waiting to chat with her.
[04:29.24]But she has a full-time job as an accountant and can only spend about three hours doing her online voluntary work each day.
[04:37.71]She simply does not have enough time to offer support to all these people personally.
[04:42.98]The solution is the Web Mother website,
[04:46.22]which is hosted by Liu Hunarong and provides access to other volunteers who are available to give advice.
[04:53.88]NORTHERN TEENAGRES DON’T GET BORED—THEY GET A BOARD!
[04:59.60]Many Chinese young people are discovering the excitement of skateboarding,
[05:04.04]and skating ramps are being built in some parks.
[05:07.10]Those who live in northern China also have a chance to try out a different kink of boarding.
[05:12.24]When the winter freeze puts a stop to most outdoor games,
[05:15.79]trendy teenagers in Beijing and northern cities head to the mountains to experience the latest cool sport—snowboarding.
[05:23.74]There is so much enthusiasm for winter sports in China that the number or people taking part is expected to grow by ten to twenty times in just five years,
[05:34.37]reaching between 50 and 100 million by 2009.
[05:38.91]This has led to the development of many new facilities and there are now more than two hundred ski slopes in China,
[05:45.89]many of which also have snowboarding runs.
[05:49.05]Although most mature people choose to ski
[05:52.21]many of the younger generation prefer snowboarding because they say it is more creative,
[05:57.85]faster and there are fewer rules.
[06:00.57]While skiers slide gracefully down the mountain,
[06:03.42]energetic snowboarders jump, turn and fly from shallow channels called “half pipe” runs.
[06:09.87]Of the total number of Chinese people participating in winter sports,
[06:14.28]the percentage of snowboarders is higher than in any other country,
[06:18.20]and companies who supply snowboarding equipment are eager to see this trend continue.
[06:23.76]Suppliers are doing all they can to promote the sport as cool and fashionable way of life for China’s youth,
[06:30.53]and one American company is even offering nightclub parties and fashion shows as well as lessons on how to ride the boards.
[06:38.68]Unfortunately snowboarding, like all winter sports,
[06:42.52]is still very expensive.
[06:44.48]Some young snowboarders work all through their summer holidays just to be able to afford some hours on the snow in winter.
[06:52.32]For most of us the high cost means that snowboarding is just not possible at the moment.
[06:57.75]However, it probably will not be long before the other mountainous areas of China such as Sichuan,
[07:04.86]Xinjian and Yunnan are developed,
[07:07.10]and as more facilities become available,
[07:10.34]prices will almost certainly fall,
[07:12.40]So who knows? Soon we may all be able to have a go at the hottest sport for cold weather |